Spokane International Airport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Spokane International Airport Geiger Army Airfield
Spokane International Airport in 2010, viewed from the south
IATA: GEG ICAO: KGEG FAA LID: GEG
Summary
Airport type	Public
Owner	Spokane County & City of Spokane
Operator	Spokane Airport Board
Serves	Inland Northwest (primarily Spokane–Coeur d'Alene area)
Location	West Hills, Spokane, Washington, United States
Hub for	Empire Airlines
Elevation AMSL	2,385 ft / 727 m
Coordinates	47°37′12″N 117°32′02″W / 47.62000°N 117.53389°W / 47.62000; -117.53389
Website	SpokaneAirports.net
Map
FAA airport diagram
Runway
Runway Length Surface ft m 03/21 11,002 3,353 Asphalt/concrete 08/26 8,199 2,499 Asphalt
Statistics (2025)
Aircraft operations 68,152 Total passengers 4,350,330 02.0% Cargo handled 60,153 US Tons
Source: Federal Aviation Administration; Spokane International Airport

Spokane International Airport (IATA: GEG, ICAO: KGEG, FAA LID: GEG) is a busy airport in Spokane, Washington. It's about 7 miles southwest of downtown Spokane. This airport is super important for the 'Inland Northwest' region. This area covers 30 counties, including cities like Spokane, the Tri-Cities in Eastern Washington, and Coeur d'Alene in Idaho.

Its special code, GEG, comes from its old name, Geiger Field. This name honored Major Harold Geiger, an early aviation hero who passed away in 1927.

In 2024, Spokane International Airport was the second busiest airport in Washington state, serving over 4.2 million passengers! It's also one of the busiest airports in the whole United States. Seven different airlines fly from GEG, offering direct flights to more than 20 places across the United States. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sees it as an important airport for commercial flights.

GEG Airport is huge! It covers about 6,140 acres, making it the largest public airport in Washington state by land size.

Exploring Spokane International Airport's Past

World War II Geiger Field postcard

Geiger Field in 1943

Before 1941, the airport was called Sunset Field. The War Department bought it and renamed it Geiger Field. This was to honor Major Harold Geiger, a brave pilot who helped start Army aviation. That's where the airport's code, GEG, comes from!

During World War II, Geiger Field was a very important training base. Pilots learned to fly large B-17 Flying Fortress planes there. New planes came from the Boeing company in Seattle. The base also fixed and supplied aircraft. In 1943, the first official fire protection training for airports started at Geiger Field. Trains could even reach Geiger Field through the Great Northern Railway.

After the war, in 1945, Geiger Field became a commercial airport for Spokane County. During the Cold War, it helped protect important places like the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Grand Coulee Dam. Fairchild Air Force Base is also nearby, about 4 miles to the west.

In 1946, it became Spokane's main city airport, taking over from Felts Field. It got its current name, Spokane International Airport, in 1960. Even after becoming a public airport, the Air Force still used it for a while in the early 1960s. The airport code GEG still reminds us of its past as Geiger Field.

The main Concourse A and B building opened in 1965. It was designed by architects Warren C. Heylman and William Trogdon.

Airport Growth and Modernization

In 1974, a second floor was added to Concourses A and B. The airport has a big plan for the future, which includes adding a third runway and more gates to Concourse C.

A new, taller control tower was built south of the airport. It replaced an older one and is now the tallest control tower in Washington state. A project called TRACE finished in November 2006. It made the airport's main areas, like the Rotunda and Concourse C, much nicer. It added more shops and made security checkpoints bigger.

In 2010, Runway 3-21 was made 2,000 feet longer. This helped bigger planes take off more easily, especially in summer. The airport has been working to add new gates, a central security area, and more space for baggage. This helps them offer more direct flights, even to the East Coast, as more people and cargo use the airport. Spokane has been hosting many events and attracting new businesses.

TREX Program: Terminal Upgrades

On October 20, 2022, work began on a big project called TREX. The first part expanded Concourse C. This $150 million addition added 144,000 square feet and 6 new gates. The first three new gates opened in June 2024. The rest of this part of the project started construction in late 2024 and was completed in 2025.

The second part of the TREX program is creating a central security checkpoint and baggage claim area. This will make it easier to move between Concourses A/B and C. This new Central Hall is a huge 145,000 square feet. Its construction began in 2025 and is expected to finish in 2027. Other plans in the TREX program include moving the rental car area and updating Concourse A/B. The airport received $6.5 million from a special law to help pay for this project.

Airport Features and Layout

Runways and Airfield

The airport covers about 6,140 acres. It has two paved runways for planes to take off and land:

• Runway 3/21: 11,002 feet long and 150 feet wide, made of asphalt and concrete.
• Runway 8/26: 8,199 feet long and 150 feet wide, made of asphalt.

The Ray Daves Control Tower

The control tower here is special because it's named after just one person: Ray Daves. He was a brave radioman in World War II who survived famous battles like Pearl Harbor and Midway. After the war, he worked as an air traffic controller in Spokane until the 1970s. The tower was named in his honor in 2010.

Passenger Terminals

Terminals at Spokane International Airport

Spokane International Airport has three main parts for passengers. There's Concourse A and B in the middle, Concourse C to the southwest, and the Ground Transportation Center to the north. These parts are connected. However, if you're flying and need to go from Concourse A-B to Concourse C, you have to leave the secure area and go through the main lobby.

Concourse A/B: The Original Hub

Entrance to the Concourse A-B ticketing area

View of the Rotunda in Concourse A-B

The Concourse A/B building opened in 1965. It has two concourses connected by a round central area called the Rotunda. This Rotunda has places to eat and shop. Concourse A has 5 gates, and Concourse B has 8 gates.

This building first opened on April 1, 1965. It cost about $4.6 million back then! It was designed by Warren C. Heylman and William Trogdon. The building has a unique style with lots of exposed concrete and interesting shapes.

Over the years, the airport has grown, and some parts of the original design have changed. For example, in 1974, a second floor was added to Concourses A and B. This allowed passengers to use jet bridges to get onto planes. Even with changes, you can still see many of the original cool architectural features, like the concrete roof and columns.

As part of the TREX program, the airport plans to combine the baggage claim areas from Concourses A-B and C into one big area. Concourse A-B will also get a renovation. There are long-term plans to build a brand new terminal, possibly starting in 2030.

Today, Southwest Airlines mainly uses Concourse A. Delta and United Airlines use Concourse B. American Airlines moved to Concourse C in March 2016.

Concourse C: The Modern Wing

Concourse C

Concourse C has 9 gates, some on an upper level and some on a lower level. Smaller propeller planes use the lower gates, and larger jet planes use the upper gates. This concourse opened in 2000 after a $20 million project. It has a modern look with lots of metal and big windows. It's different from Concourses A and B, but still has some similar design ideas.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air used Concourse C a lot. Then, American Airlines moved there in March 2016. Alaska and American use the upper gates, and Horizon uses the lower gates.

In October 2022, work started on expanding Concourse C as part of the TREX program. This concourse was under construction and reopened in late 2025.

Airlines and Destinations

Passenger Flights

Airport Statistics

Top Flight Destinations

Busiest domestic routes from GEG
(September 2024 – August 2025)

Rank	City	Passengers	Carriers
1	Seattle/Tacoma, Washington	540,190	Alaska, Delta
2	Denver, Colorado	249,520	Southwest, United
3	Salt Lake City, Utah	155,270	Delta
4	Phoenix–Sky Harbor, Arizona	154,090	American, Southwest
5	Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota	122,320	Delta, Sun Country
6	Portland, Oregon	113,950	Alaska
7	Las Vegas, Nevada	109,280	Allegiant, Southwest
8	Los Angeles, California	89,430	Alaska, Allegiant, Delta
9	Atlanta, Georgia	80,030	Delta
10	Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas	79,660	American

Airline Popularity at GEG

Yearly Passenger Numbers

Annual passenger traffic as reported by the Spokane International Airport (GEG).

Getting To and From the Airport

Spokane Transit buses stop at the airport. You can catch routes 60 and 63. Other services like the WSDOT Gold Line and various shuttles also serve the airport.

A special building for all rental cars opened in November 2008. It's right next to the Ground Transportation Center. This makes it easy for passengers to pick up and drop off rental cars.

Images for kids

• 

  Concourse A and B complex originally opened in 1965.

See also

In Spanish: Aeropuerto Internacional de Spokane para niños

• List of airports in Washington